Clinical features and treatment of acute necrotizing gingivitis in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

The objective of this study was to find out the clinical features of acute nercotizing gingivitis (AN(;) and the types of treatment modalities offered by dental surgeons at the Dental Unit of Kenyatta National Hospital(KNH), Nairobi. Cards of patients who were seen in the Dental Unit of KNH from January, 1992 to December, 1993, were scrutinized for positive diagnosis of ANG, presenting signs and symptoms, intra-oral locations of ANG and the treatment that was given to the affected patients. Results showed that the commonest patients' complaints were pain (73.2%), gingivitis bleeding (42.7%), swelling of the gums (25%) and bad breath (20.7%). The commonest clinical features were: gingival ulceration 1.9%), poor oral hygiene (47.6%), inter dentally craters (39.7%) and submandibular Iymphadendilis (34.9%). ANG was located mainly on the anterior segment of the mandible. The commonest treatment modalities were antimicrobial therapy (87.1 %), mouth washes (47.1 %) and scaling (24.3%). It was concluded that the frequency of common clinical features of ANG was low, and that the main treatment for ANG is by 'antimicrobial therapy and not scaling.